The 'Franc-Lyonnais' was a
province of
France.
Located on a narrow strip of land on the left bank of the River
Saône, it was composed of thirteen
parishes, forming two parts :
★ South part, from the north outer wall of
Lyon :
★
★
Cuire-la-Croix-Rousse
★
★
Caluire
★
★
Fontaines-sur-Saône
★
★
Rochetaillée-sur-Saône
★
★
Fleurieu-sur-Saône
★
★ Vimy. From
1665, Vimy is chosen as capital and rechristened
Neuville, in the honor of
Camille de Neuville de Villeroy, lord of the parish and
archbishop of Lyon
★
★
Genay, the first capital of the province
★
★
Bernoud
★
★
Saint-Jean-de-Thurigneux
★ Northern part, embedded in the Principalty of the
Dombes :
★
★
Saint-Bernard-d'Anse, formerly
Saint Barnard
★
★
Saint-Didier-de-Formans
★
★
Riottier
The Franc-Lyonnais probably originates from lands which used to belong to the church of Lyon. After being put under the protection of the count of
Savoy, in
1398, the province is united to the kingdom of France around
1475, while remaining a province considered as foreign and within the lands of the German Empire. The Franc-Lyonnais strikes a deal in
1556 with the monarchy, guaranteeing its privileges, mainly the exemption from taxes. All the political story of Franc-Lyonnais is the one of the defense of its privileges, which the monarchy tries to take away during the XVIIIth Century.
When the
French Revolution took place in
1789, the Franc-Lyonnais was split between the departements of
Rhône-et-Loire and
Ain.
Bibliography
★ Un pays et ses privilèges sous l'Ancien Régime : le Franc-Lyonnais / Alain Caraco. - Mémoire de maîtrise d'histoire moderne, Lyon II, 1983. This document is in storage at the Lyon Municipal Library.
See also
★
Lyonnais